Vietnam to respond to World Water Day

The national meeting is expected to see the presence of Party and State leaders and nearly 3,000 representatives from ministries, departments and localities besides local residents. 
Other activities include a scientific seminar themed “Safe treatment and reuse of wastewater – Solution to sustainably protect water resources” and a showcase of photos and water-saving technological products, along with communications activities. 
According to the ministry’s Directorate of Water Resources Management, the World Water Day 2017 takes the theme “Water and Wastewater” with a view to raising public awareness of water pollution mitigation, water resources protection, economical and effective exploitation and use of water resources. 
Population growth along with rapid urbanisation and industrialisation are exerting great pressure on Vietnam’s environment and water resources. 

Among air, water and soil pollution, water pollution is the most serious, mostly caused by the discharge of untreated and poorly treated wastewater from industrial and agricultural production facilities, craft villages, and households. 
Vietnam is currently home to 316 industrial and 16 coastal economic zones, and nearly 2,790 craft villages. The total volume of wastewater from industrial parks nationwide surpasses 3 million cu.m per day, with 70% of this volume discharged to the environment without treatment. 
Moreover, more than 13,600 medical establishments, including 1,253 hospitals, 1,037 preventive medicine facilities and 11,104 communal medical stations across the country, discharge an average of 150,000 cu.m of medical waste per day. 
However, only 54% of hospitals nationwide use wastewater treatment system. The rate among central-level ones is 73%, provincial-level clinics, 60% and district-level ones 45%.